HH calls for investment in energy at the UN
BY NOEL IYOMBWA
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has told the United Nations that Zambia is determined to developing her energy sector so that its citizens could have guaranteed access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
President Hichilema says his government is working hard to exponentially grow the energy sector so that Zambia could be transformed and become a net-exporter of energy in Central and Southern Africa.
The President informed the United Nations that Zambia has the potential to produce excess hydropower energy and that was why his government had embarked on an ambitious energy investment plan to increase power generation capacity and attain a broad energy mix with renewable energy being at the core of investment.
Addressing the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76) during the High Level Dialogue on Energy, President Hichilema said his government was putting in place a conducive policy environment that would encourage private sector investment in power generation, transmission, distribution and retail.
“Energy is one of the key enablers for economic growth and sustainable development and as such, all countries must have guaranteed access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. Zambia desires to be transformed into a net-exporter of energy in Central and Southern Africa as we have potential to produce excess hydropower energy. Zambia is in this regard implementing an ambitious energy investment plan to increase power generation capacity and to attain a broad energy mix with renewable energy at the centre,” President Hichilema said. The Head of State explained that Zambia was making strides in implementing and mainstreaming various climate change mitigation and adaptation measures into national development agenda in line with the national commitment the country has made under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Mr Hichilema announced that Zambia would therefore be participating in the 26th Conference of Parties on Climate Change where the country would further engage the interntional community on matters of Climate Change.
“Zambia will leverage on synergies among the global development agendas such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, United Nations Energy for All, the Paris Agreement and the African Union Agenda 2063 in order to derive maximum benefits for the country,” President Hichilema said.
Thi is contained in press statement issued by Wallen Simwaka, First Secretary (Press) at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
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